Ayrshire residents are being warned to brace for Storm Dudley arriving later this week.
Weather experts have issued an amber warning and say danger to life is 'likely' at the coast with up to 90mph winds set to hit on Wednesday evening.
A yellow weather warning from the Met Office blankets Scotland from 3pm on Wednesday until 6pm on Thursday.
But a more severe amber warning takes in a chunk of the central belt and the west coast of Scotland down to the Borders and the north of England.
The amber warning covers the whole of Ayrshire and is in place from 6pm on Wednesday until 9am on Thursday.
The Met Office warning reads: "Very strong westerly winds are expected to develop across western Scotland and northern Northern Ireland late Wednesday and extend eastward across southern Scotland and northern England during the evening.
"There is still some uncertainty in the timing and location of the strongest winds but there is the potential for inland wind gusts of 70-80 mph in places. Gusts of 80-90 mph are possible around exposed coasts and hills."
What to expect
- Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, and some roads and bridges are likely to close, leading to longer journey times and cancellations.
- Probably some fallen trees and damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs
- There is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
- Injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties
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